The next moment, an extremely slight "pop" sound was heard.
Naruto stretched out his finger and lightly flicked Satsuki's forehead. Li Yan controlled it just right, not really hurting her, but enough to make her recover from the panic a little bit.
"Well..."
Satsuki subconsciously loosened his grip on Naruto's sleeves and turned to cover the bullet's forehead. However, those big eyes, which were about to cry and filled with uneasiness, still raised them unblinkingly and looked at Naruto firmly.
Seeing the girl in front of him who had lost all the spikes and had only a soft core left, Naruto felt soft in his heart. He deliberately spoke in a slightly teasing tone.
"Satsuki... It seems that although the genius Uchiha Clan is very good at being a ninja, in some aspects... he is really an out-and-out fool."
He pointed out that it was naturally her fear of gain and loss and fear of losing connection.
However, if this was said in normal times, it would definitely lead to Satsuki's angry rebuttal, but at this moment, it was like a stone sinking into the sea.
Satsuki didn't immediately get angry as expected, and didn't blush and retort loudly, "Who are you calling an idiot!". She just looked at him with that wet, pitiful look full of vulnerability and dependence.
"Even if I am a fool... don't leave me alone..."
Naruto,"..."
The "arrogance" that was once so vivid among the attributes of "tsundere" was completely washed away by the huge changes and fear overnight. What's left is the unabashed "delicacy" and deep-seated uneasiness.
"Satsuki, do you know?" Naruto's voice slowed down.
"The tide... it never needs to choose whether to follow the moon - it just naturally follows the rhythm of the ocean deep inside."
He leaned forward slightly so that his eyes were level with hers, "And I didn't just make the choice at that time. I will always follow the 'rhythm' in my heart."
"So, don't be afraid. Welcome this lost happiness with peace of mind. I will always be here to watch you and never leave."
Tides...moon...
This metaphor stunned Satsuki. She looked at Naruto with her big eyes without blinking, and looked at Fugaku quietly from the side, as if she saw an old friend in a trance.
"Really... really?" Satsuki's voice was still trembling. She needed the most conclusive confirmation and the most solid evidence.
Naruto didn't answer with any more words. He just grabbed Satsuki's still cold little hand and pressed it firmly on his chest.
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded, with a bright smile on his face, "You feel it, right? It's hot, right? Is your heart beating fast? It's all true! It's not because I just experienced a battle, but because... I'm making the most important promise with you, so I'm nervous... but also super happy!"
The true and true heart under the palm, the hot and rapid heartbeat, is more powerful than any gorgeous words.
Then, Naruto gently put down the hand Satsuki was pressing on his chest, stretched out his other hand, and gently pinched Satsuki's soft cheek with a little playful force with his fingertips... Well, it felt pretty good.
"Do you feel it? Does it hurt a little?" He asked with a smile, "So you see, this is not a dream! I am standing here for real, and I won't hurt anywhere!"
Seeing that the frozen panic expression on Satsuki's face finally began to loosen and cracks appeared, Naruto decided to pursue the victory. He changed the subject and his tone was as low as a sign of weakness.
"Actually... I am probably a little more scared now than you Satsuki."
"... Eh?" This completely unexpected turn made Satsuki stunned, "Why...?"
Naruto lowered his head slightly, "I'm afraid... I'm afraid that Satsuki will no longer need me when my parents come back to accompany me. So..."
He raised his head and looked at her with a slightly pleading look, "Please don't leave me, Tuo? Let's just... stay with each other, don't leave anyone behind, Tuo or not?"
This move of "retreating to advance" suddenly hit the softest place in Satsuki's heart.
"No! How could it be!" She retorted almost immediately and excitedly, grabbing Naruto's sleeves with her little hands again, "How could I abandon Naruto? I will never! I will never abandon you!"
Upon hearing this urgent and firm response, Naruto's face immediately showed a smile of success, more of a smile of joy from the bottom of his heart, and he immediately accepted the words.
"Yes! I heard it! I will accept this with all sincerity! This is our agreement! Now that uncle and aunt are back, Satsuki still needs me if you need me..."
"So... you need me, it's really... it's too stupid! Please keep, always need me like this in the future!"
Finally, the last barrier in my heart was completely broken down, and the cracks quickly expanded. The "tsundere" who was always proud and awkward completely disappeared and turned into a "little crybaby" who could only nod and cry.
Satsuki nodded vigorously, letting tears well up like a dam. At the same time, he felt that it was a bit embarrassing to cry like this, and subconsciously wanted to lower his head to hide his embarrassment.
Seeing this, Naruto reached out his hand again and stroked the top of her head, "Well, it's okay, just cry. Sometimes tears are not a sign of weakness."
He comforted softly, "They couldn't help but run out because they were too happy and couldn't hold it in anymore, right?"
"... Yeah." Satsuki buried his face deeply into Naruto's shoulder and responded dully. Warm tears quickly soaked the clothes on his shoulders.
Naruto felt the moisture on his shoulders and the slight trembling in his arms, and continued to speak in a steady and firm voice. "Well, you don't have to make a choice when you come here. There will be you, me, uncles, aunts, and maybe other friends there..."
"In my world, you have been there from the beginning, you are here now, and you will always be there in the future. This will never change no matter what."
These last words made Satsuki's cries become louder again. They were no longer silent sobs, but wailing mixed with great relief, gratitude and happiness.
Accompanying her crying were her intermittent, almost inaudible, repeated "Thank you... really thank you...".
Naruto didn't say any more words of comfort, just nodded his head gently, one hand still patting her back rhythmically, fully accepting all her emotions. Finally, he suggested softly.
"Well, after breakfast later, let's play Ninja Academy together."
Behind the two of them, Fugaku cried like a tearful person as he watched his little daughter rely on the little yellow hair without any reservation...
As a father, watching the daughter he took good care of develop such a deep dependence and emotion on another boy...
He raised his hand with complicated emotions, as if he wanted to say something, maybe because of his father's ability, maybe because he felt something was wrong.
But his other hand gently stopped him. I saw Mikoto shaking her head slightly at her husband. There was no worry or dissatisfaction on her face, just like this... she smiled gently and tolerantly, and looked at the two embracing children with soft eyes.
(There will be another update the next day. Next is the transitional chapter. It will take a big jump in time until Ninja Academy graduates)